Chrys C. Caragounis Books

The introduction of the Erasmian pronunciation in 1528 had two dire consequences: Greek was divided into ancient and modern — a division that led to the neglect of the later periods of the language, and the pronunciation applied made impossible the detection of many communicatory aspects and obscured many text-critical problems. Chrys C. Caragounis argues for the unity of the Greek language from Mycenaean times to the present. The New Testament appears during the time of transition (335 B. C. - A. D. 565) from ancient to modern Greek. Morphological and syntactical analysis shows that the New Testament often adumbrates morphological and syntactical changes that characterize later Greek, up to Neohellenic. This means that the evidence of Later Greek is often a sine qua non for a fuller understanding of the New Testament. The Historical Greek Pronunciation helps us detect rhetorical figures, wordplays, etc. that the Erasmian pronunciation has missed, and its application on MS readings solves many text-critical cruces.

Employing a diachronic approach, Chrys C. Caragounis delves into the grammatico-syntactical aspects of the New Testament, revealing how traditional exegesis has often misinterpreted its text due to a narrow view of the Greek language. He examines the historical evolution of Greek from classical to Neohellenic, clarifying the peculiarities of New Testament Greek as part of a broader linguistic transition. By utilizing comprehensive linguistic evidence, the work aims to enhance readers' understanding of the New Testament's true meaning and context.

A Symposion volume, honouring the great grammarian, Antonios N. Jannaris, on the 100th anniversary of his death, the book contains the contributions of some of the leading scholars from eleven universities, each a specialist in his/her particular period of Greek. This book takes the reader through a literary Odyssey all the way from Homer to Neohellenic. In this panoramic view of the oldest language of Europe, each author makes his/her original contribution in the light of the latest research, taking the status quaestionis a step further und thus enriching existing literature. The reader will note a sound and serious Auseinandersetzung between various authors which cannot fail but set the various issues in clearer perspective. At the same time all of the contributions whether they dwell on Homer, on Hellenistic Greek, or on Neohellenic, show the remarkable unity and continuity – a continuity without a peer among the European languages – of the Hellenic language, thus justifying the opinion of the greatest linguist, Georg Hatzidakis, that the entire history of Greek is necessary for the correct interpretation of any of its periods.